Deputies: Student admits to Whitman bomb threat

The boy is accused of writing the message on a bathroom wall Wednesday afternoon; it was the second threat in as many weeks.

Jessica Pierce, staff writer

A 12-year-old has admitted writing a bomb threat on the bathroom wall in a Marcus Whitman school building, Ontario County deputies reported this morning.

The threat is the second in as many weeks in the school district. In the most recent incident, the boy was interviewed by school staffers shortly after they found the writing Wednesday afternoon and he “admitted to” penning it, said deputies, who were called to the school at about 3:15 p.m.

The boy’s name is not being released because of his age. His case was referred to the sheriff department’s Juvenile Aid Division and may be handled in Family Court, as most criminal cases involving minors are. In a news released issued late this morning, deputies said school officials are handling the matter internally.

Deputies did not indicate whether the boy is tied to the threat last week that forced the evacuation of the middle and high schools. Deputies went to the schools Tuesday, April 21 with bomb-sniffing canines after the message “Bomb 2:30” was found in a girls’ restroom at the middle school at about 1:15 p.m.

The discovery of that note triggered a “Code Black,” the emergency protocol for bomb threats that involves evacuating students. Afternoon activities, including eight sporting events, were postponed.

Marcus Whitman Superintendent Mike Chirco was out of his office this morning and could not be immediately reached for comment.

In February, the high school and middle school both went into lockdown twice within three days after several .22-caliber bullets were found in hallways. After both instances, district officials called in deputies to search for weapons, but none were found.

About a month later, a student found a note written on a stall in a high school boys’ restroom. That note, along with another discovered around the same time, included general complaints about being bullied and threats about bringing a gun to school, Chirco said previously.